Situación del cáncer en Chile 2000 – 2010 / Cancer status in Chile 2000 – 2010

La situación epidemiológica de mortalidad en Chile en el año 2010, muestra que el cáncer ocupa el segundo lugar dentro de las causas de muerte. La prevalencia nacional para cáncer es un 24,6 por ciento y se observa una prevalencia mayor en las regiones de Antofagasta (29,0 por ciento), Coquimbo (26,2 por ciento), Valparaíso (25,5 por ciento) y Región Metropolitana (25,1 por ciento). Además, en las Regiones de Arica y Parinacota y Antofagasta, el cáncer es la primera causa de muerte, con un 22,4 por ciento y un 29,0 por ciento, respectivamente. El análisis de las tasas de seis de los cánceres más prevalentes en nuestro país: estómago, mama, próstata, pulmón, vesícula y colon por región de norte a sur, muestra que la región de Valparaíso y desde Maule hasta Magallanes, tienen tasas de cáncer de estómago superiores a la media nacional. Se aprecia además quela tasa de cáncer de próstata es mayor a la media nacional en las regiones de Valparaíso y desde Maule a Los Ríos. Con respecto a cáncer a pulmón, las regiones de Arica y Parinacota, Antofagasta, Atacama, Valparaíso, Metropolitana de Santiago y Aisén presentan tasas mayores al promedio del país. En general, los datos muestran que la región de Valparaíso presenta tasas de cáncer superiores al promedio del país en 13 de los 16 cánceres analizados en este documento, le sigue la región de Los Ríos con 12 y finalmente Aisén con 9. De acuerdo al perfil epidemiológico y las relaciones de causalidad descritas para el cáncer en Chile, podemos sugerir que las recomendaciones de salud pública para la prevención de este mal en Chile deberían considerar, además de la limitación del consumo de bebidas alcohólicas y la restricción del hábito tabáquico, una serie de factores que abordan la problemática general con recomendaciones simples pero efectivas, tales como las sugeridas por la OMS. Sin perjuicio de lo anterior, es importante realizar estudios epidemiológicos y clínicos que incorporen...

The epidemiological situation of the mortality in Chile in the year 2010 shows that cancer ranks second among death causes. Cancer rates in Antofagasta (29.0 percent), Coquimbo (26.2 percent), Valparaiso (25.5 percent) and Metropolitan (25.1 percent) regions are higher than the country average (24.6 percent). In addition, in Arica and Parinacota, and Antofagasta, cancer is the first cause of death, with 22.4 percent and 29.0 percent, respectively. Data of six more prevalent cancers (2008 to 2010): Stomach, Breast, Prostate, Lung, Bladder and Colon along the country. In Valparaiso and from Maule to Magallanes there are rates of Stomach cancer higher than the national average. The rate of Prostate cancer is higher than the national average in Valparaiso and from Maule to Los Ríos. In relation to Lung cancer the regions of Arica and Parinacota, Antofagasta, Atacama, Valparaiso, Metropolitan of Santiago and Aisén present rates higher than the national rate. In summary, the Valparaiso region presents rates of cancer higher than the average of the country in 13 of 16 cancers analyzed in this document, following by Los Ríos with 12 and finally Aisén with 9. According to the epidemiological profile and causality relationships for cancer in Chile, we suggest that public health recommendations for cancer prevention should consider, besides limitation of alcohol/drinking and restriction of the smoking habit, additional simple but effective recommendations to address general problematic, as for example those suggested by the WHO. Furthermore, it is important to do epidemiological and clinical studies that incorporate environmental and dietary factors of our country and genetics in the specific regions where some cancers have major prevalence.

An assessment of the effectiveness of tobacco control measures on behavior changes related to tobacco use among adolescents and young adults in a district in Sri Lanka.

Introduction: Sri Lanka became a signatory to the WHO Frame Work Convention on Tobacco Control in September 2003, and this was ratified in November 2003. With a view to reduce the use of tobacco in Sri Lanka, the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act (NATA) No. 27 of 2006 was implemented. Aim: To assess the behavior changes related to tobacco use among adolescents and young adults following exposure to tobacco control measures were implemented by NATA. Materials and Methods: A case-control study was conducted on 42 adolescent (aged 13-19 years) and 156 young adult (aged 20-39 years) men living in Anuradhapura Divisional Secretary area in Sri Lanka. Cases (current quitters) and controls (current smokers) were compared to ascertain the outcome following the exposure to tobacco control measures. A self-administered questionnaire and focus group discussions were used to ascertain the exposure status in cases and controls. Confounding was controlled by stratification and randomization. Univariate analysis was performed by Backward Stepwise (Likelihood Ratio) method. Results: Among 198 respondents, 66 (27.3% adolescents and 72.7% young adults) were quitters, while 132 smokers (18.2% adolescents and 81.8% young adults) were current smokers. Exposure to the anti-smoking media messages revealed that TV was the strongest media that motivated smokers to quit smoking. Majority (66%) of cases and control were not exposed to tobacco promotion advertisements, while 47% of the cases and 50% of the control had never seen tobacco advertisements during community events. All cases (66) as well as 89% (118) of the control had not noticed competitions or prizes sponsored by tobacco industry during last year ( P = 0.13). Conclusion: Tobacco control measures implemented by NATA had a favorable influence on behavior change related to smoking among quitters and current smokers.

Avaliação epidemiológica de pacientes com câncer de cabeça e pescoço em um hospital universitário do noroeste do estado de São Paulo / Epidemiologic evaluation of head and neck patients in a university hospital of Northwestern São Paulo State

No mundo, aproximadamente 200 mil casos novos de câncer de cabeça e pescoço são diagnosticados anualmente. Uma média de 13.470 casos novos de câncer de cavidade oral por 100 mil habitantes é observada no Brasil. OBJETIVO: Analisar os aspectos clínicos e epidemiológicos dos pacientes atendidos no Serviço de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço em um hospital universitário do Noroeste do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. CASUÍSTICA E MÉTODOS: Foram analisados os dados de 427 pacientes atendidos no período de 2000 a 2005. As variáveis analisadas incluíram idade, sexo, profissão, cor da pele, hábitos tabagista e etilista, sítio primário de tumor, estadiamento clínico, grau de diferenciação histológica e sobrevida. Os dados foram analisados por estatística descritiva exploratória. RESULTADOS: Houve predomínio de homens (86 por cento), cor da pele branca (90 por cento), tabagistas (83,37 por cento), etilistas (65,80 por cento) com idade média de 61 anos, sendo que 24,25 por cento dos homens realizavam atividades rurais e 60 por cento das mulheres, atividades domésticas. O sítio primário de tumor mais freqüente foi a cavidade oral, com o tipo histológico espinocelular. Observou-se 164 óbitos. CONCLUSÃO: Esse levantamento contribuiu para traçar um perfil dos pacientes atendidos no hospital e, sobretudo contribuir com os programas de prevenção para esta doença.

Head and neck cancer accounts for nearly 200.000 new cases worldwide. A mean of 13.470 new cases of cancer in the oral cavity for 100.000 inhabitants is observed in Brazil. AIM: To analyze clinical and epidemiological aspects in patients consulted in the Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery ward in a University hospital of Northwestern São Paulo, Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 427 patients consulted in the hospital in the period from 2000 to 2005 were investigated. The variables analyzed included: age, gender, occupation, skin color, tobacco and alcohol consumption, primary site of the tumor, clinical staging, degree of histological differentiation and outcome. The data was analyzed by descriptive and exploratory statistics. RESULTS: Prevalence was found among men (86 percent), white color (90 percent), smokers (83.37 percent), and alcoholics (65.80 percent); the average age was 61 years, 24.25 percent of men were farmers and 60 percent of women, housekeepers. Primary site of tumor was usually in the oral cavity (35.37 percent), with histological squamous cell. The incidence of deaths was 164. CONCLUSION: This study has provided the profile of the patients assisted in this hospital; moreover, it has contributed to outline further programs for preventing this disease.